Sheet feed control device



March 2, 1954 Y J, w, EACH 2,670,954

SHEET FEED CONTROL DEVICE Filed March 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ja/m M/Am [5am 75-; 5- 3 ATTORNEY March 2, 1954 WJBACH' 2,670,954

SHEET FEED CONTROL DEVICE Filed March 9, 1951 2 SheetSSheet 2 INVENT ATTORNEY coincides with the cylindrical extension of the surface of a hub portion 39 on shaft 33, as best seen in Fig. 5. These two hubs form parts of an overrunning clutch which is completed by a helical spring 4| long enough to embrace both hubs. Said spring is so configured as to exert a light radially inward force on the hub 31 to maintain the inner portions of its convolutions in frictional contact with the hub surface. The spring, as viewed in Fig. 3, is wound in a direction which will effect a tight driving contact with the hubs 31 and 39 when the same is turning in the normal counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3), the roller 3| being driven thereby. Since rollers I5, |1 travel at higher speed than roller 3|, they will tend to drive the latter by means of the forwarded sheet when its leading edge reaches their nip between said rollers. Such driving action will be permitted, for when the hub 39 turns more rapidly than the hub 31 in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3, the grip of the spring 4| on hub 31 is loosened, and overrunning of its drive by shaft 33 is permitted.

The clutch also has a disabling operator in the form of a sleeve 43 freely mounted on the outside of the spring 4| and provided with a notch 45 for receiving a radially extending car 41 integral with the end of the spring. The sleeve has an integral toothed brake wheel 43, for engagement by stop pawl for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Arranged at one side of the roller 3| is a fixed separator abutment for cooperation with the roller. In the form of the invention shown this consists of a disk 53 preferably having a high friction or abrasive surface and mounted eccentrically and rigidly on a shaft 55, which shaft is adjustably carried by the frame. By turning the shaft 55 slightly, the spacing between the surfaces of abutment 53 and roller 3| can be adjusted to provide a separation suited to the particular sheets being handled and to limit the feed to only one sheet at a time.

The adjustment described above is tested by the machine operator by feeling the frictional pull on a sheet which the roller 31 exerts when the machine is running. Since it is rather diffioult to get the setting exactly accurate, and since the operation of the device is such that even though accurately set for an average sheet, slight changes in conditions or in the sheet thickness will sometimes permit the compressing and starting of two sheets instead of one between the roller 3| and separator abutment 53, the present invention provides means hereinafter described for accurately determining when such a misfunctioning occurs and for stopping the machine before the plural sheets have been fully forwarded to be worked upon.

According to the present invention, a feeler is arranged to engage the lower side of roller 3| to the right of the separator abutment 53 as seen in Fig. 1. In the preferred form illustrated in the drawings, the feeler includes a roller 51 rotatably mounted between side walls 59 of a lever 6| which is preferably partly U-shaped in cross section. Notches 53 formed in the side walls 59, are arranged to pivotally mount the lever 6| on the shaft 55 while the walls 59-59 straddle the separator abutment 53. The notches 53 are also placed so as to provide a magnifying ratio, shown for convenience as being about one to two, between the distance from the feeler roller axis to the axis of shaft 55, andthe distance from the latter axis to a switch operating 4 pad 65 bridging walls of the lever at the end opposite from the feeler roller 51.

Clamped to a portion of the machine frame, for example a transversely extending rod 61, is a bracket 69 which carries a laterally extending stud 1| and a depending screw 13. The stud 1| pivotally mounts a switch bracket 15 which carries a switch 11. The latter is preferably of the type known as a microswitch having a spring toggle means 19 engaged by an operating plunger 8| and arranged so that the toggle is always slightly biased to hold the plunger 8| out and the switch contacts separated, and operates to snap the contact arm 83 one way or the other whenever the toggle 19 lines up with the same. The switch contact 85 carried by arm 83, and the contact 81 are connected electrically to conductors 89 and 9| respectively.

The bracket 59 is clamped on rod 61 in such position that the switch 11 is embraced by the side walls 59 of the lever BI and the plunger 8| overlies the operating pad 65. The switch bracket 15 is also provided with an arm 93 which is turned to one side so as to embrace the screw 13, and a nut is threaded on the screw for adjusting the position of the arm 93 and consequently that of the switch 11 through small angles about the axis of stud 1|. A spring 91 holds the arm 93 firmly against the nut 95 and provides tension to resist any inadvertent derangement of an adjustment once arrived at. By adjusting the nut 95 the spacing between the end of plunger 8| and operating pad 65 can be very accurately set to the desired value.

The switch 11 is also shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, the conductors 89 and 9| forming one side of the power line supplying a solenoid 99, the other terminal of which is served by the conductor 3|. The solenoid 99 is mounted on the end member [3 adjacent the pawl 5|, and is preferably so arranged that the retraction of the plunger I93 of the solenoid, when the circuit is closed through switch 11, will project the pawl 5| into engagement with the teeth of wheel 49. In the form of the invention shown the pawl is pivoted to the end member [3 and has an integral operating lever H15 which is urged by a spring I01 in a direction to withdraw the pawl from the wheel. A pin I09 connects the end of lever H55 with the solenoid plunger I03.

It has been found that, apparently due to the multiplying ratio of the lever Bi and possibly the lack of any high degree of sheet compressive force urging the feeler roller 51 towards the roller 3|, the feeler mechanism is capable of being adjusted to such a position that a single sheet S between feeler roller 51 and starter roller 3| will have no tendency whatever to close the switch 11, while two sheets S between the said rollers will consistently close the switch 11 regardless of slight variations in sheet thickness.

The operation of the device may best be visualized in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the sheet separator and forwarding means 29 is operating in the desired fashion, i. e. withdrawing a single sheet S from the shingled supply, the parts assume the position of Fig. 1, and the thickness between rollers 3| and 51 is insufficient to close switch 11. The solenoid 99 consequently remains at rest position as seen in Fig. 3 and the feeding of the sheet continues in the normal fashion. When, however, some variation from normal condition causes the separator to withdraw two sheets S from the supply, the parts assume the position of Fig. 2. At this time the n of'the-werkpiecesr "i r rs a; i j added 'thickries's betweenrollers'msandsi causes the lever "6 l' fto "swing slightly farthersthan be- -fore. 'Ifhis' 'added mdvement ris *multipliedvbyathe at or'of"the' lever;'-*in' 't'hiscase two, and firmly c'los'e's the-switch'fl'l i B'y'turnirig'to Fig'-. 3;. -it:can be seen that the solenoid 99 wi1I'+be actua.-tedithus retracting its plunger 1 03'iarid=proj'ectingthe pawl "f to braki g I I eel-Is is normally turning with wthewsliaf tsfl in the directionof the arrow but whensit is arrested bycontact" with' the"pawl 51 its rotation stops T iii's 'ntly; the'r'eby stopping the rotation ofi-the ear 't'o looseii-thegrip'bfthespring l-l thereon soithat said clutch the hubs turns idly within the clutch-spring 4| and the rotation *crshaft- 33--' ceases =at -0nce,

' 'lthough'the drive g'ear continueswto-:rotatea F as The "cessation 'ofs sheetieeding above described "*callsihe' operator's attention to" the fact-that clutch ,normallvconne sequent stations isneeded anwthesituation is 'eorrectedat'the instant it-occurs. I 1 ;.z 3 While in order to "comply -withthe -statute the invention is described-injanguagewhich is rather "specific as to structural-features--andarrange- 'ments, it is to be understood that theinvention if is not limited to the-specificdetailsshown "but "that the 'ineansherein disclosed-comprises -the 'f-rpreferred'of several modesof putting thev-inven- "'tion' into effect, and-the invention is therefore =claim'ed*"in' any of its forms or modifications 'Within the scope of the language employed inthe 1 t appended claims. 1 r

"Having described-- :the invention; what is "claimed is?" (1; Ina device of the character describedycon itinuously rotating'feed rollers; -means designed to :ftake: one sheet ofpap'er at a: time from ashingled stack of sheets and-"advance 'the sametoath'e feed "rollers; means located between said feed' rollers "i'and said sheet advancing means for sensi ng-i the number "of sheets advanced byi-isaid advancing means;- and means' responsive to :the sensing of "ff-1f .m'ore thanbnersheet-by saidsensing rneans' for stopping said advancing-means before the plural sheets being advanced reach the feed rollers and "without-affecting the continued-rotation of said feedrollers;

' 2. In aseparating and advancingameans. de-

"signedto take-one workpie ce-.ataetime from a *nrbll-er-to'retard all but -the onewworkpiece-vto be "advanced bythe'starting rol1er,%the improvement which'ccmprises: means for sensingzthe thickness "of the material issuing -f10111f between :said roller 1 fO'I interrupting said tirive MY "33Ii'1 a "sp'ara tin' an advancing means; designed to take one workpiece at a time from *45310081-ti-0l1 where work? T Y i nfitid} feeler. surface I me s-being:moved from nor al- -posi H .Lralitynof workpieces passes simulta fousl ,be-

.\ i moved for-interrupting 6. ln a sepa ting and adya starting roller, a" drive therefor, and an abutment H u V .mentswhich comprises. a l "i-having a surface spaced from the-'surfaceaof the surf ceediaae t 9 d ;rler,\ at a, loeation. here 1 betweenlsaid,., ?ll L an sa abutme t between saidg feelervsurfacea ---,-1e ver -:beiI ;mOYedfrom qrm andsaid abutment-and for-assuming one position a. in responsetothe issuance of a single workpiece, saidmea'n's being-moved to-anothersand detectably diiferent position'when a-plurality ofsuper- I posed workpieces issue-g and means operated by, l

the" sensing means when'in the second position 7 lever operated stop the-movement 3130 the inovement surf-acewf: 5fleworkpiece to h "the r: improv wasensirl ith i h s from-betwee said :vrforiflfillmi 4 loksuancenoi a: ale-f QlkQii mov d.-t aanetheaandz'g t a s tion when a plurality of superp .--issue:;' and lm 3 i 5 ZQ im 1Zhfii t iifi fi when moved to the second position for releasing movementofnsaid cing :roller a driv t roller ;for for-ward workpiece advan 1 Q er un e, Qfm he w r iece :iszt keaei e 251 ed bya si fieque i. i A h abut havin a surfa ea pec 9 it mi 9 roller to retardqall but he ongwo rk advanced :by; the 'sta ment wh-ichcompris moving, -to;. positions workpiece .or; more 5v fromybetween said r '1 means, for di s ccnne advancement :of; th mov me t rse d se o dicating issuance; 0 '5.--In a separating sheet-like WOIjkpi eQeS rollerntm retard allfiut h advanced;by the. starti wh comprise wadia e hw i s s.- 1. said; roller and said slat tment il I tween- Said,- I'O116l! .and aid feeler surfacefand power means actuated [d feeler when so sheetdike MQlkpieses, co mp r r as ing roller, a drive therefor, and an abutment having a surface spacedfrom the sur f aei'. ofsaid nrollerto retard all iit t advanced bysthe, starting rcllen h .1

t A f Q a ill j pass er said ph1rality. of w kpi eq e s passes tbetween .said

t'r'means'operatedm saidl to greater di stan ing roller, a drive therefor, and

a stack of sheet-like workpieces which comprises having a surface spaced fromthe surface of said roller to retard all but. the one workpiece to be advanced by the starting roller, the improvement which comprises: a lever having a feeler surface adjacent to and biased towards said roller at a location where workpieces issuing from between said roller and said abutment will pass between said feeler surface and said roller, said lever being moved from normal position when a plurality of workpieces passes simultaneously between said roller and said feeler surface; an electric switch operated by said lever; and means including a solenoid controlled by said switch for interrupting the drive in response to switch actuation.

8. In a separating and advancing means for sheet-like workpieces which comprises a starting roller, a drive therefor, and an abutment having a surface spaced from the surface of said roller to retard all but the one workpiece to be advanced by the starting roller, the improvement which comprises: a lever having a feeler surface adjacent to and biased towards said roller at a location where workpieces issuing from between said roller and said abutment will pass between said feeler surface and said roller, said lever being moved from normal position when a plurality of workpieces passes simultaneously between said roller and said feeler surface; means operated by said lever to move in response to the movement of said feeler but through a greater distance; an electric switch operated by said lever operated means; and means including a solenoid controlled by said switch for interrupting the drive in response to switch actuation.

9. In a separating and advancing means for sheet-like workpieces which comprises a starting roller, a drive therefor, an overrunning clutch normally connecting said drive with said roller for forward driving of the roller in a workpiece advancing direction, but permitting overrunning of the drive by the roller when a workpiece is taken away from the roller at higher speed by a subsequent feed, and an abutment having a surface spaced from the surface of the roller to retard all but the one workpiece to be advanced same; means for sensing and moving to a position indicating whether one workpiece or a plurality of superposed workpieces is issuing from by the starting roller, the improvement which comprises: a lever pivotally mounted with one end adjacent said roller at a location where workpieces issuing from between said roller and said abutment will pass between the lever end and said roller, said end of said lever being lightly biased towards said roller; an arm on said lever having an end arranged to move in response to the movement of said one end but through a greater distance; and means actuated by the end of said arm for disconnecting said clutch.

10. In a separating and advancing means for sheet-like workpieces which comprises a starting roller, a drive therefor, an overrunning clutch normally connecting said drive with said roller for forward driving of the roller in a workpiece advancing direction, but permitting overrunning of the driveby the roller when a workpiece is taken away from the roller at higher speed by a subsequent feed, and an abutment having a surface spaced from the surface of the roller to retard all but the one workpiece to be advanced by the starting roller, the improvement which comprises: the construction of said overrunning clutch as a helical spring clutch normally rotat ing with said drive and roller and including a disconnecting ear extending from the free end of the spring forming said clutch; a brake wheel engaging said ear and normally rotated by the between said roller and said abutment; and means for engaging and arresting said brake wheel in response to movement by said sensing means to a position indicating issuance of a plurality of workpieces.

11. In a separating and advancing means for sheet-like workpieces which comprises a starting roller, a drive therefor, an overrunning clutch normally connecting said drive with said roller for forward driving of the roller in a workpiece advancing direction, but permitting overrunning of the drive by the roller when a workpiece is taken away from the roller at higher speed by a subsequent feed, and an abutment having a surface spaced from the surface of the roller to retard all but the one workpiece to be advanced by the starting roller, the improvement which comprises: the construction of said overrunning clutch as a helical spring clutch normally rotating with said drive and roller and including a disconnecting ear extending from the free end of the spring forming said clutch; a brake Wheel engaging said ear and normally rotated by the same; a lever pivotally mounted with one end adjacent said roller at a location Where workpieces issuing from between said roller and said abutment will pass between the lever end and said roller, said end of said lever being lightly biased towards said roller; an arm on said lever having an end arranged to move in response to the movement of said one end, but through a greater distance; an electric switch positioned in the path of movement of said lever arm end; a solenoid controlled by said switch; and brake means operated by said solenoid and positioned for engagement with said brake wheel for arresting the same in response to solenoid movement resulting from switch actuation by the end of said lever arm.

12. In a separating and advancing means for sheet-like workpieces which comprises a starting roller, a drive therefor, an overrunning clutch normally connecting said drive with said roller for forward driving of the roller in a workpiece advancing direction, but permitting overrunning of the drive by the roller when a workpiece is taken away from the roller at higher speed by a subsequentfeed, and an abutment having a surface spaced from the surface of the roller to retard all but the one workpiece to be advanced by the starting roller, the improvement which comprises: the construction oi said overrunning clutch as a helical spring clutch normally rotating with said drive and roller and including a disconnecting ear extending from the free end of the spring forming said clutch; a brake wheel engaging said ear and normally rotated by the same; a lever pivotally mounted with one end adjacent said roller at a location where workpieces issuing from between said roller and said abutment will pass between the lever end and said roller, said end of said lever being lightly biased towards said roller; an arm on said lever having an end arranged to move in response to the movement of said one end, but through a greater distance; an electric switch positioned in the path of movement of said lever arm end; a solenoid controlled by said switch; brake means operated by said solenoid and positioned for engagement with said brake wheel for arresting the same in response to solenoid movement resulting from switch actuation by the end of said lever arm; and means for adjusting the position of said switch relative to the end of said lever arm.

13. In a machine for feeding and working on sheet-like workpieces, a. machine drive; a separating and advancing means which comprises a starting roller, an operating connection for the starting roller from the machine drive, and an abutment having a surface spaced from the surface of said roller to retard all of a supply of workpieces except the one to be advanced by the starting roller; means cooperating with the starting roller surface for sensing the thickness of the material issuing from between the roller and the abutment and for assuming one position in response to the issuance of a single workpiece, and another and detectably different position when a plurality of superposed workpieces issue; and means for breaking said operating connection in response to movement of said sensing means to a position indicating issuance of a plurality of workpieces to prevent advancing of said workpieces by said starting roller without affecting the normal operation of the rest of the machine parts.

14. A folding machine comprising continuously operating folding mechanism; a sheet supply holder; starting mean designed for taking one sheet at a time from the supply and advancing the same to the folding mechanism including a starting roller closely adjacent the folding mechanism, and an abutment spaced from the starting roller to retard all but the one workpiece to be advanced by the starting roller; sensing means between the starting means and the folding mechanism for detecting the inadvertent advancement of more than one sheet by the starting means; and means, responsive to the sensing by said sensing means of more than one sheet being advanced by said starting means, for stopping said sheet starting means before the plurality of sheets being advanced reach the folding mechanism, and without interfering with the continued folding operation of the folding mechanism-on a preceding sheet.

JOHN WILLIAM BACH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 584,073 Dexter June 8, 1897 2,220,073 Belcher Nov. 5, 1940 2,224,137 Breman Dec. 10, 1940 2,318,132 Welk May 4, 1943 2,551,468 Schutt May 1, 1951 

